UTEP women's basketball: Talented Miner steps up as key player

Sophomore guard Chrishauna Parker was always going to have a major part on the UTEP women's basketball team this season.

That was obvious long before practice began a month ago. That was obvious long before last season ended when she took on a bigger and bigger role for the Conference USA champions.

The former Houston Atasco cita High School star represents a different level of athleticism for UTEP, carrying a sculpted mass of muscle on her 5-foot-10 frame that enables her to play everything from point guard to small forward.

The Miners are going to need a bunch from her, and that was before Jenzel Nash crashed to the floor with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday's exhibition win against St. Mary's.

"It's a bigger role for all of us with one of the key players going out. It's going to be tough for all of us and we have to step up," Parker said. "I know I have to be a leader, all the returners do. We have to do things right and the younger players will look up to us."

She has the tools to fill it. Even on a team as deep as UTEP was last season, Parker was the first newcomer to stand out, earning occasional spot starts early in the season.

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By the end of the year, she was a bench player, but one seeing more and more time as the stakes increased. In the NCAA Tournament against a Penn State team with more talent than anyone UTEP had faced, Parker logged 16 minutes and scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting.

"It was just a matter of getting in shape, getting in the gym more," she said of her increased role last season. "I had better practices and I got more playing time.

"There's always an adjustment from high school to college. It's one everyone has to make."

Her teammate, junior Kayla Thornton, thinks she's handled it well.

"She's come a long way. She's great off the court, she's great on the court," Thornton said. "She's great to be around."

"Look at her calves, her build. She's built like an ox; she's as strong as an ox. And look at her basketball IQ. That's one thing that impressed me when I recruited her, her basketball IQ."

Parker translates that physique into a mentality.

"I'm a physical player. I'm not going to let anybody take control on the court," she said. "I like to be in control, be physical with other players."

In some respects, her role will change a little this year. Against St. Mary's, she started in what would probably be considered a small forward capacity. But she'll slide over to the off guard with Nash out.

At least early, Parker will also be a key backup for point guard Kelli Willingham, a position she's familiar with from high school and AAU ball, but not one she had to fill last year.

"Point guard is a bigger role, I have to take charge of the team," Parker said.

"We had a lot of depth last year and we didn't need her to play point guard," Adams said. "It's a big difference, playing the point (versus) playing the off guard.

"But she's got the basketball IQ to do it, and she's done it before."

Every returnee on the team has more to do now, and perhaps none have more on them than Parker. She seems up to the challenge.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359. Follow him on Twitter @bretbloomquist.

Parker file

Who: Chrishauna Parker.

Position: 5-10 sophomore guard with the UTEP women's basketball team.

Jersey number: 32.

Of note: Averaged 5.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 16.7 minutes for UTEP'sconference championship team last season; had 8 points in NCAATournament game against Penn State; attended Houston Nimitz first three years of high school and was teammate of current Baylor star Brittney Griner; graduate of Houston Atascocita High.